Related Articles

Duluth, Minnesota, synonymous with the "Northlands," has a range of activities year-round. Once the home to more millionaires per capita than any other city in the United States, Duluth is a summer and winter vacation spot for outdoor enthusiasts hailing from the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs. The summers and early winters tend to be the best times to visit Duluth, as these times are ideal for outdoor activities, from swimming in one of the many beaches that surround Lake Superior to snow-shoeing and cross country skiing.

Lake Superior

It's hard to talk about Duluth without mentioning it's proximity to Lake Superior. The largest of the five Great Lakes, Lake Superior is well over 31,600 square miles and is the largest fresh-water lake in the world. As Duluth is situated at the mouth of the most western tip of the lake, you can catch a glimpse of Lake Superior from many parts of the city. During the summer months, swim in the lake, walk or run on the lake walk or picnic near the waters. You can also sail during the summer; the Duluth-Superior Sailing Association (sailingforall.org) provides classes and youth programs.

Beaches

Arguably, the best time to visit Duluth is during the summer. Although the city is famous for its winter sports, the summers are temperate, as breezes from the lake keep the city from becoming too humid. Take a dip in Lakewalk Beach East off of 16th Avenue East, which includes restroom facilities, trash receptacles and a walking trail path. Park Point Franklin Park, on 13th Street South (Ref.6), is one of the sandier beaches along the lake and includes restroom facilities, as well as a playground for children.

You can also picnic by the waters: drop by Northern Waters SmokeHaus (northernwaterssmokehaus.com), grab some local smoked fish, a range of cheeses, sausages and bread and head to Brighton Beach or Park Point Beach House, which includes barbecue pits, picnic areas and tables. After a day of swimming and a summer picnic, sip on a locally-made beer at Canal Park Brewery (canalparkbrewery.com) or Fitger's Brewhouse (brewhouse.net), two breweries close to the lake with summer outdoor seating.

Hiking

Summer is the best time to explore the Superior Hiking Trail, a 296-mile hiking path that includes more than 90 backcountry camping sites that require no reservations or camping fees. By mid-fall, the temperatures in Duluth begin to drop, and during the cold winter and early spring months, the trails are often iced over, which can make them slippery and dangerous.

Duluth's portion of the SHT includes 43-miles of trails; as these trails are all within Duluth proper, they're easy to access from the city. Explore Hartley Trail, which is across from the street from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. This scenic area includes wetlands and forests, and as you go uphill in sections of the north-south trail, you have sweeping views of Lake Superior. For a longer hike, try the Skyline Parkway at Highland and Getchell to Skyline Park. One-way, the hike is close to six miles and passes through several creeks, thickets and hills.

Winter Sports

If you're a winter sports enthusiast and enjoy snow-bound landscapes, the winter months of December, January and February may be the best time to visit Duluth. For snowshoeing, grab a pair of snowshoes -- you can rent a pair from Hartley Nature Center (hartleynature.org) if you don't own snowshoes -- and head to any of the city's many parks such as Hartley Park or Leif Erikson Park. You can also ice skate in Duluth's downtown Bayfront Park, where skating is free. The city also has impressive cross-country and down-slope skiing trails in Spirit Mountain (spiritmt.com) and Mont du Lac (skimontdulac.com/index-winter.php). It's not unusual to see winter temperatures dip down below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, so layer and bundle up in proper winter gear before snowshoeing or hitting the slopes.